Quakes to shuffle lineup for RSL match

If San Jose coach Frank Yallop has an iPod, there’s a pretty good chance it’s set to “shuffle” this week. At least that’s true of the team’s lineup heading into tomorrow’s match against Real Salt Lake. Forward Kei Kamara and midfielder Ivan Guerrero are out due to commitments with their national teams, and Yallop told Center Line Soccer yesterday that Ronnie O’Brien will be spared playing on the artificial turf at Rice-Eccles Stadium, generally recognized as the worst surface in MLS.“That’s three really good players for us who are out, but I’m expecting the guys that have been waiting to play to come in and do a good job,” said Yallop.Promising rookie Shea Salinas will take O’Brien’s slot on the right side of midfield, with newcomer Jovan Kirovski taking Kamara’s spot alongside Ryan Johnson in the Earthquakes’ attack.”Jovan’s a very experienced player,” said Yallop, “comfortable with the ball at his feet, dangerous around the goal. He’s done well so far, but it takes a while for any player to settle.”Former Red Bull Joe Vide will move into the center of midfield, with Ramiro Corrales moving left to fill the tireless Guerrero’s usual slot.”I expect the same work ethic we’ve shown in the games we’ve had that we’ve played well in, and hopefully we can play well Saturday,” Yallop said. “(Real Salt Lake is) certainly good at home, and I think we have to be prepared to go in there and get a result, to battle, fight, and scrap for the ball.”The teams last met April 30, when a team made up largely of Earthquakes reserves fell 4-0 in a U.S. Open Cup play-in match. That game was marred by a horrific clash of heads between Earthquakes defenders Ryan Cochrane and Jay Ayres, as well as a second-half snowstorm that necessitated the use of a bright orange, high-visibility ball. While there weren’t many positives to take from that match, it has given Yallop additional ideas on how to prepare for this weekend’s tilt.”We played a lot of balls trying to go forward today rather than trying to keep possession because on that field, it’s difficult to get any momentum going in the game,” he said. “It’s a bit more of a north-to-south game. Not whacking the ball, but playing forward to feet early if you can.”A San Jose win would see the Quakes leapfrog RSL, leaving behind the MLS Western Conference cellar.The match will be broadcast at 6:00 pm Pacific on Fox Soccer Channel (with a 5:30 pre-game show) and in Spanish on Fox Sports Español and KLOK, 1170 AM.